RURAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT
There is a wider acceptance of hybrid capital with the lack of options beyond bank lending: Bain Capital’s Sarit Chopra
Special Situations team of the Boston based PE group has deployed $1.2 bn in CY26; aims at $1 bn/yr momentum. From funding cross border M&As by India Inc to carve outs or helping promoter’s deleverage their balance sheets, new opportunities are mushrooming.
Nitin Gadkari wants to change how India's city roads are built; after highways, he's turning his attention to engineers, quality and accountability
Nitin Gadkari has called for a national mission on urban roads, stressing better project preparation, skilled engineers and accountability. Speaking at MARG 2026 in New Delhi, he also highlighted integrated planning between road, metro and rail agencies and showcased urban road development models in Bengaluru and Uttar Pradesh.
FUEL SkillTech, KDEM train 568 Karnataka students in AI, coding and employability skills
FUEL SkillTech University has trained 568 students across three Karnataka institutions under the NIPUNA Karnataka initiative, run in association with the state government and the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM).
PM Modi greets people of six states on foundation day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered greetings to residents of multiple Indian states on their foundation days, emphasizing their cultural significance. He acknowledged the contributions of people in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Keralam. Modi expressed hope that the coming years would bring prosperity and new opportunities for these states. He highlighted their achievements in various fields such as agriculture, technology, and cultural heritage.
Amitabh Kant pitches for development model with rural communities as producers, innovators
Kant also stressed the need to transform rural India into centres of economic activity, innovation and entrepreneurship rather than limiting it to welfare delivery.
Govt sets up banking committee under Suresh N Patel to chart reforms for Viksit Bharat
The government on Friday constituted a High Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat, appointing former Central Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N Patel as its chairman. RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu, former Indian Bank MD and CEO Padmaja Chunduru and former RBI Deputy Governor N S Vishwanathan are among its members.
Cabinet hikes Dearness Allowance by 3% with Rs 10,000 crore allocation; check key announcements
DA hike: The Union Cabinet has approved several development schemes totaling Rs 29,267 crores for various initiatives. Among these is a Rs 10,016 crore increase in Dearness Allowance for Central government employees. The DA will benefit about 48 lakh employees and 68 lakh pensioners, with hikes effective from July 1, 2026.
Regional rural banks to set up cybersecurity centres, develop threat intel
Regional rural banks are set to improve their cyber security through the establishment of cyber security operations centres. They will also develop capabilities for vulnerability assessments and incident response as part of the reform agenda. The Financial Stability and Development Council plans to enhance cyber security measures following previous ransomware attacks. New initiatives will include implementing enterprise data warehouse solutions for better data management and reporting.
Second-largest salt producer state ranks last in usage of iodised salt; children lose up to 15 IQ points due to iodine deficiency
Tamil Nadu, India's second-largest salt producer, has the lowest share of households using adequately iodised salt, with just 62% meeting the standard against a national average of 76% in a 2018-19 survey. Health officials have raised concerns over iodine deficiency, goitre among schoolchildren and household salt habits, while urging people to consume less than 5g of salt daily.
Ladakh to launch Rs 100 crore startup policy next month, aims to benefit 1,000 startups
The UT Administration of Ladakh plans to launch a Startup Policy next month to support local entrepreneurs. With a budget of ₹100 crore, this initiative aims to foster innovation and economic growth. The policy will specifically benefit around 1,000 startups in the region. Additionally, special attention will be given to the Pashmina sector and commercial agriculture. Overall, the initiative seeks to strengthen rural economies and enhance local livelihoods.
NSDC raises Rs 4 crore through Social Stock Exchange for global skilling initiative
The funds raised will be used to provide skilling and employment opportunities to 600 youth from economically weaker other backward classes (OBC) households in Madhya Pradesh. The programme, with an estimated outlay of Rs 11.25 crore, aims to prepare 600 candidates for international employment opportunities, with 300 candidates earmarked for Japan and another 300 for Germany, the ministry of skills development and entrepreneurship said in a statement on Thursday.
Women entrepreneurs can power Asia’s digital trade boom
Women entrepreneurs across Asia are increasingly turning to digital trade, enabling them to reach markets far beyond their local confines. This transition allows them to bypass traditional mobility challenges and limited funding opportunities. A variety of initiatives are in place to bolster women-led enterprises through training and improved financial access.
India needs policy credibility and continuity to sustain FDI as strong growth alone is not enough, says KIEP expert
India needs to maintain policy credibility and continuity to sustain foreign investment inflows, as strong economic growth alone may not be enough to reassure global investors about the country's long-term business environment, highlighted Kyunghoon Kim, Head of the India and South Asia Team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP).
PM-AJAY: 18,093 villages declared Adarsh Grams, 785 student hostels completed
The Centre has declared 18,093 villages Adarsh Grams under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), while 785 student hostels have been completed, the Social Justice Ministry said. The scheme supports infrastructure development, livelihoods and educational access for Scheduled Caste communities, with Rs 1,730 crore released to states between 2021-22 and 2025-26.
Jyotiraditya Scindia outlines banking expansion plans for Northeast India at Bankers' Conclave 2.0 in Agartala
Jyotiraditya M. Scindia discussed significant banking developments at the North East Bankers’ Conclave 2.0 in Agartala. He outlined future targets including opening new bank branches and increasing ATM installations in unbanked areas. Collaborative efforts between banks and government were emphasized to enhance development in the Northeast region. The Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lalduhoma, highlighted the importance of banks in creating economic opportunities for citizens.
Child marriage: Progress made, but millions of girls still at risk in India, say experts
India still exhibits troubling child marriage rates, with one in three child brides globally residing in the country. Significant improvement has been made, with current prevalence declining from over 50 percent in 1996 to slightly above 20 percent. However, regional disparities suggest that some states still face acute challenges regarding early marriages. Continued efforts and targeted strategies are deemed essential for reducing these rates before the 2030 target.
Lakhpati Didi scheme boosts household income: IIM Study
The Lakhpati Didi initiative, launched in 2023, aims to enhance women's income and savings in India. Recent studies indicate that household income has increased by 61% since the program's inception. Notably, the number of women-led enterprises has surged by 48% within a year.
Growth hinges on local reforms, not protectionism: Indermit Gill
India holds a unique opportunity to enhance its economic growth but must address internal challenges effectively. Rapid reform and the efficient use of resources are key to achieving this growth. The country needs to adopt artificial intelligence to improve productivity across various sectors. Expanding trade and eliminating barriers will be essential for attracting foreign investment. Policymakers must focus on enhancing domestic conditions to fully realize India's economic potential.
Govt notifies 375 permissible works under VB-G RAM G, expands scope by 41 per cent
The Centre has introduced 375 new permissible works under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission. The categories include water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and disaster preparedness. An emphasis has been placed on livelihood infrastructure, with 128 works focused on water security. The revised framework replaces MGNREGA with guaranteed wage employment for rural households each year.
Load More
